"Do you mean to tell me that my sister's son is in danger of becoming an idiot ?" I said not exactly an idiot.

Yet your strong disinclination toward marriage could certainly be traced to a shocked condition of the nerves.

Certain fixed ideas-- "Fixed ideas!" said your Aunt.

She has a particularly annoying habit of repeating one's words.

"Benis has always had fixed ideas--though when he was young," she added with satisfaction, "I knew how to unfix them.
If this absurd rest cure can do anything to cure chronic stubbornness, I've nothing to say.